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GO HIKING – Doctor’s orders

It’s true because I want it to be true.  🏕 🙂

…  medics found that severely ill flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors.

A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff. …

Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus. …

Coronavirus and the Sun: a Lesson from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

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popular gear on the Continental Divide Trail

With “social distancing” being recommended around the world, I’m personally looking at doing even more hiking than usual in 2020.

The objective of social distancing is to reduce the probability of contact between persons carrying an infection, and others who are not infected, so as to minimize disease transmission …

One of the earliest references to social distancing dates to the seventh century BC in the Book of Leviticus, 13:46: “And the leper in whom the plague is…he shall dwell alone; [outside] the camp shall his habitation be.”

Mac annually posts a Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey.

Click through to find out what gear was most popular in 2019.

For example … SHOES:

Merrell Moab 2 Vent
  1. Merrell Moab 2 Vent (Hiker Rating: 5/5)
  2. La Sportiva Wildcat (4.80/5)
  3. Salomon XA Pro 3D (4.64/5)
  4. Altra Timp (4.29/5)
  5. Altra Lone Peak (4.28/5)

I wear various Moab shoes as I find them so much more durable than trail runners. Merrell comes in very wide sizes, as well, which I need due to bunions.

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Warren Doyle to Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame

Warren Doyle, of Mountain City, Tennessee, has hiked the entire 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail 18 times, including nine thru-hikes. …

He also led eight group thru-hikes of the AT, seven of which saw a 100 percent completion rate among the hikers. …

The class, which will be formally inducted on Saturday, May 2, during the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, also will include Chris Brunton, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; the late Thurston Griggs, of Baltimore, Maryland; and the late Jim Stoltz of Helena, Montana.

PennLive

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Kilimanjaro Uncovered by Alexandra Tanbai

I read this book in preparation for our own Kilimanjaro climb scheduled for September 2020.

Alexandra penned Kilimanjaro Uncovered in real time while preparing and during her climb on the Northern Circuit, a little-known hiking route away from the crowds to the top of Kilimanjaro.

She provides valuable guidance for those interested in climbing themselves and tells a broader story of a truly life-changing experience.

Alex is a rookie mountain climber. She over-prepares. Is cautious and thoughtful about every aspect.

The book is very informative for anyone who has never done a serious multi-night tent trip.

I admire her courage in planning that big adventure on her own. I admire her  honesty and vulnerability sharing fears and problems on the trek, big and small.

Alexandra Tanbai made the summit. In fact everyone in her guided party made the top though one had a serious ankle injury. No helicopter was available for evacuation.

Less than a year after publishing Kilimanjaro Uncovered, Alexandra founded KiliGATE.com—the first and only online Kilimanjaro tour booking platform committed to responsible tourism.

Her goal—make it easy for tourists to book their climb with a responsible tour operator and promote fair porter treatment.

I do feel this book is too long.

It’s available in paperback and Kindle formats.

 

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Bhutan’s Snowman Trek

Ramblin’ Boy posted a detailed trip report on the famed Snowman / Lunana Trek.

He was guided by Yangphel, a Thimphu adventure travel agency though he had booked through the trip through World Expeditions.

Snowman is one of the best treks in the world. However, the cost to trek in Bhutan was $300 / day.

If money is no object, go for it.

…  Covering over three hundred kilometres in twenty-three days at high altitude means there is lots of time for something to go wrong –

There were 16 in our trekking party, most with a tent of their own. As well, perhaps ten locals – guides, cook team, tent team, horse handlers.  The horses made up the single largest group – there were 43 of them.  We were a village on the move! …

Narethang camp
vista on the Narethang-Tarina section
vista en route to Rerethang after crossing Tempe La, the last pass

Start on this page. Follow the links.

Bhutan’s Snowman Trek Preview:

Part 1 – Paro To Shana To Laya

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walk to Everest Base Camp via Tumlingtar

Most who walk to Lukla (rather than fly) do so from Jiri (1,905m), Nepal over 5-8 days of trekking.

The main downside is the terrible 10 hour bone rattling bus ride Kathmandu to Jiri.

Here’s a little known alternative — Tumlingtar (460m) to Lukla. (8-12  days)

      • fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (avoiding the dangerous roads)
      • start lower. More time for acclimatizing to altitude.
      • very few hikers means few & rudimentary bhattis (teashops) with simple menus. Mostly dal bhat.
      • you can hike independently or hire a porter / guide en route as needed

Sue and Howard have hiked via Tumlingtar three times. Read one of their trip reports:

Nepal Khumbu to Arun Valley

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Explore the Appalachian Trail in 3D

Kraig Becker:

Listen up trekkers, backpackers, and thru-hikers, Backpacker magazine has a new tool that you might be interested in, particularly if you plan on walking the Appalachian Trail.

The recently launched 3D map of the entire route of this iconic trail puts a host of great information at our fingertips, giving us new ways to explore this amazing path without ever leaving home.

The 3D map, which can be found here, covers the entire 2190 mile (3524 km) length of the AT. …

Adventure Blog

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Tasmania’s Three Capes Track

Has the Overland Track, Australia’s most famous long-distance walk, just been usurped? Edging along the tops of cliffs that soar more than 300m above the unruly Southern Ocean, the Three Capes Track (threecapestrack.com.au) has quickly assumed the mantle of Australia’s most intriguing bushwalk.

The four-day, 46km track opened to huge expectations at the end of 2015 …
… criticisms that have hounded the track are the cost (at AU$495 per person, it’s more than double the price of the Overland Track) and initially there were no camping facilities for traditional bushwalkers. …

To regulate walker numbers, which have been capped at 48 setting out each day, Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service has established a permit system. Bookings should be made at threecapestrack.com.au/booking.

The walk officially begins at the Port Arthur Historic Site, about a 90-minute drive from the Tasmanian capital of Hobart.

Lonely Planet

People love it.
Cape Pillar Peninsula from the Blade
(Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson)
3CT Map
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7 of the World’s Best Hikes

Dientes Circuit, Chile 

Chinese Wall, Montana 

Laugavegur Trail, Iceland 

Rockwall, British Columbia

Jomolhari Loop, Bhutan 

John Muir Trail, California 

Pinhoti Trail, Alabama & Georgia  

Outside 

I’m planning on the Chinese Wall in Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana myself. June 2020.

Start about 85 miles west of Great Falls, at the South Fork Sun River Trailhead, and hike 23 miles northwest. You’ll climb along the Continental Divide and spot elks, moose, and mountain goats along the way. Once you reach White River Pass, at the southern end of the wall, you’ll find a choice of multiple routes, including an eight-mile trail along the wall that ends at a lookout called Larch Hill Pass.